Computer engineers design computers and the programs that allow them to function. Computer hardware engineers build the physical machines that store data and run programs, and software engineers -- sometimes called software developers -- design the programs themselves. Whether they want to focus on hardware or software design, computer engineers need at least a bachelor's degree.

Hardware Engineers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer hardware engineers brought home an average of $49.99 an hour in 2012, and earned an average salary of $103,980 per year. Hardware engineers employed by software publishers earned more than those in any other industry, an average of $55.73 per hour. Average hourly pay by state ranged from a low of $36 in Oklahoma to a high of $55.95 in Michigan.

Systems Software Engineers

Systems software engineers design the operating systems and interface systems that allow computers to properly function. As of 2012, the BLS reports that systems software engineers earned an average hourly wage of $49.30 and an average annual salary of $102,550. Half of all systems software engineers working in the United States earned between $37.95 and $59.40 per hour, with the highest-paid 10 percent earning $71.56 or more per hour. Geographically, average hourly earnings ranged from a low of $31.57 in North Dakota to a high of $55.50 in California.

Software Applications Developers

Applications developers are software engineers who design games and other programs. According to the BLS, they tended to earn slightly less than hardware and systems software engineers: an average of $44.85 an hour and $93,280 a year as of 2012. The highest average pay by industry was reported by securities and exchange brokerages, which paid software applications developers an average of $51.59 an hour. North Dakota reported the lowest average wage by state for this occupation, $31.87 an hour, while California reported the highest, $50.54.

Job Outlook

The BLS expects job growth for computer hardware engineers to be somewhat slow, just 9 percent compared to an average expected growth rate of 14 percent for the American economy between 2010 and 2020. Most job growth for this occupation is expected in computer consulting firms. By contrast, jobs for software applications engineers are expected to grow at a rate of 28 percent, and systems software engineers are expected to enjoy an even higher growth rate, of 32 percent. Growth will be driven by a demand for new games and operating systems in phones, computers and video game systems.